Dream vs Reality

Gabriel knocked lightly at the door to his and his brothers' bedroom. In his hand were the bags of candy he'd gotten for Balthazar and Castiel. He waited a second or two, counting the seconds softly in his head. He smacked the wood with his knuckles again when he didn't hear any rustling within the room.

"Balthy?" No answer. "Want to build a snowman?" Again there was no answer. Gabriel's shoulder's slumped. "Come on, Balth, that was a good one." Gabriel sighed and pressed his forehead against the door glumly. He thought about leaving the candy by the door and going back downstairs. Maybe Balthy needed some more time on his own? Maybe the trip to the store hadn't been long enough for him to have his alone time?

Gabe quickly kicked the thought away. What was he saying? His brother didn't need to be alone. His brother needed him. Balthy was scared and confused. What good was sitting by himself in a dark room going to do?

Sucking in a breath, Gabriel pounded on the door again. "Balthy!"

"Go away!" Balthazar called from the other side of the door. Gabriel grinned a little. At least it was something.

"Balthazar, I just want to give you some candies Sam and I got!" Gabe called through the closed door. He popped one in his mouth and chewed loudly. "They're really good and I know you haven't eaten today!" He waited, listening carefully with his ear pressed against the door. He could hear a soft sigh and the pitter-patter of his brother's feet as he shuffled out of bed. Gabriel pulled away from the door and waited patiently, fingers fiddling restlessly with the bags in his hands. The door cracked open a moment later and Gabriel tried to cover up the pain that ripped through him at seeing the state of his brother. His bright blue eyes were bloodshot and outlined in black from lack of sleep. His cheeks were stained in tear tracks and he looked slightly paler than usual. Gabriel swallowed down the sick taste rising to the back of his throat and smiled. He held up the baggie for Balthazar to see, shaking it a little. "Will you let me in now?" he teased. Balthazar didn't say a word. He only stepped back from the door and to the side. At least he didn't shut it in Gabe's face though. The archangel took that as his invitation to come in. He stepped through, shutting the door softly behind him.

On entering the room Gabriel found the entire place trashed. Books were thrown around the room, pillows scattered the floor, and blankets were hanging from the shelves and lamp. "You redecorated…I don't like it." Again Gabe failed at putting a smile on his brother's face. Gabriel's shoulders slumped and he sat down on the floor. "How are you doing, baby bro?" He watched Balthazar calmly, but he knew that the fluffed up posture of his wings and his eyes gave away how worried he really was.

"The nightmares won't stop," he said finally, staring at Gabe tiredly. "They just keep happening…"

"I'm sorry, Balthy. I tried to wake you, but I…I couldn't," Gabe said helplessly, feeling guilty for his uselessness the night before. He'd tried so hard, but he hadn't done much to help his brother out of the endless terrors he had been face with. The archangel took in a deep breath and took Balthazar's hand, pulling the angel down so he was sitting too. "What do you dream about?" Balthazar tensed.

"A…a cloaked figure and fire," Balthazar stammered. Gabriel nodded.

"Are you still dreaming about Cas –" Balthazar shot up, pulling away from Gabriel.

"That wasn't a dream!" Balthazar shouted with wide eyes. "I would be able to tell! He's possessed he's –" Gabriel held his hands up in defeat.

"I know! I know!" Gabriel interrupted. He grabbed at Balthazar and pulled the angel back down to sit with him. He handed over a chocolate from Balthazar's bag and the angel munched slowly at it, calming little by little. Gabriel popped another gum ball into his mouth and smiled gently at his brother. "Why though…" Gabe pushed. "What made it feel so real?" Balthazar paused and Gabe handed him another candy. Balthazar took it, but didn't eat it at first.

"It…I don't know. I could still feel…feel his hands on my throat…"

"Dean can sometimes feel…" Balthazar cut him off with the wave of a hand.

"This was…different." Gabriel chose not to respond. He didn't know what to say. What could he say? Balthazar was so sure that Cas was possessed. Getting through to him just felt impossible –

"Gabe? Balthy?" a tiny voice whispered while pushing open the door. Balthazar pinned himself against the nightstand, eyes bulging in fear as Cas came in. The little guy had his trench coat wrapped in a tight fist, clutching it like a security blanket. He was nervous; scared even, but Balthy sadly couldn't see that.

"NO! NO! GET OUT! GET OUT!" Balthazar screamed. Castiel stepped back, looking more hurt than he had the other night.

Gabriel looked between his brothers, mind flashing back to all the terrible nightmares that had hurt his family recently. Cas had gone into a coma, Dean woke up screaming, and Balthy…he woke up not knowing fake from reality. This crap was pulling him and his family apart. It felt like some leach had latched onto them and was slowly eating them away, making them miserable, filling them with fear, and dragging them from each other. Gabriel gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to let his family be pulled apart. He wasn't going to let his world fall apart; especially when it was just over some stupid nightmare.

Gabriel shot up, grabbing Cas and pulling the angel so he was standing in front of Balthazar.

"Damn it, Balthy, I'm sick of this!" Gabriel shouted. He pushed Cas so he fell into Balthazar's arms. "Look at him! Really look!" Balthazar reluctantly looked. He pictured the Castiel that had attacked him, but this Castiel wasn't anything like the nightmarish one. This Castiel was warm to the touch and had big blue eyes. This Castiel looked frightened, not gleeful to watch Balthazar's pain. Balthazar hesitated. Was he wrong? Was it really just a dream?

"B…Balthy?" Balthazar dropped out of his thoughts and met Cas' gaze. The angel had tears in his eyes. Cas wrapped his arms tightly around his brother then and Balthazar gasped in surprise.

"I'm sorry," Cas whispered. "I know how…how bad dreams can get. I'm sorry. It'll be okay." Balthazar couldn't breathe. This wasn't the same Cas from the other night. This Cas was caring and loving. The tension in Balthazar's body lessened. There was no way a demon could copy that. Balthazar wrapped his arms around Cas, hugging his brother tight.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm so sorry," he chanted. Cas sighed in relief and hugged back, burring his face into Balthazar's chest, Gabriel grinned at the exchange and picked up a piece of candy from one of the bags. He tossed the chocolate at the two, breaking up their little hugging fest.

"There're my baby brothers!" He cheered, making both angels break into small smiles. "Now help me with this candy! Samsquach didn't buy it just to sit here and look scrumptious." Balthazar and Castiel broke away fully then, but still stayed close as they seated themselves on the floor with Gabriel. They each took a handful of candies and snacked away at the treats happily.